Few would have believed quite what was waiting just around the corner as Saints trooped off the pitch to rapturous applause on the final day of last season, having just finished eighth in the Premier League.

On May 11 2014, after the 1-1 draw with Manchester United at St Mary’s, it seemed as if the Saints garden was rosy.

One of the most exciting sides in the club’s history basked in the glory of having set the top flight alight, earning plaudits from across the football universe and World Cup call-ups, while in Mauricio Pochettino they had a bright young manager.

But it didn’t take long for things to start to unravel.

Before Saints knew it they were, to coin an oft used phrase this summer, finding themselves victims of their own success.

Pochettino was the first to depart, off to Tottenham, before the players started to go in a summer exodus unparallelled in the club’s history.

Comments (44)

Why should be be fed a constant DIET OF CRISIS after all the battle from League One due to incompetence from the Chairman and lack of ability from Les Reed.

NO MORE RELEGATION FIGHTS - NO MORE TEAM REBUILDING - Lets have some decent Management of our Premier League Status. COYR+WS

SPOT ON DE - and all avoidable.
SAINRS FANS DESERVE BETTER.
Why should be be fed a constant DIET OF CRISIS after all the battle from League One due to incompetence from the Chairman and lack of ability from Les Reed.
NO MORE RELEGATION FIGHTS - NO MORE TEAM REBUILDING - Lets have some decent Management of our Premier League Status. COYR+WSThe Rise of The Foot Soldier.

If Cortese really did come up with this design then me and him are through. I mean, I was prepared to live with the cognitive dissonance of supporting a banker at a time when we were all living through the effects of what bankers had done because he was very good at running a football club but that kit is an obstacle too far. And to think Italians are supposed to be a stylish people...

Nevermind all that: I've just noticed our new goalkeeper's kit. Christ, MY EYES!
If Cortese really did come up with this design then me and him are through. I mean, I was prepared to live with the cognitive dissonance of supporting a banker at a time when we were all living through the effects of what bankers had done because he was very good at running a football club but that kit is an obstacle too far. And to think Italians are supposed to be a stylish people...St Van Roetford

If Cortese really did come up with this design then me and him are through. I mean, I was prepared to live with the cognitive dissonance of supporting a banker at a time when we were all living through the effects of what bankers had done because he was very good at running a football club but that kit is an obstacle too far. And to think Italians are supposed to be a stylish people...

Cortese?

[quote][p][bold]St Van Roetford[/bold] wrote:
Nevermind all that: I've just noticed our new goalkeeper's kit. Christ, MY EYES!
If Cortese really did come up with this design then me and him are through. I mean, I was prepared to live with the cognitive dissonance of supporting a banker at a time when we were all living through the effects of what bankers had done because he was very good at running a football club but that kit is an obstacle too far. And to think Italians are supposed to be a stylish people...[/p][/quote]Cortese?costa gaz

If Cortese really did come up with this design then me and him are through. I mean, I was prepared to live with the cognitive dissonance of supporting a banker at a time when we were all living through the effects of what bankers had done because he was very good at running a football club but that kit is an obstacle too far. And to think Italians are supposed to be a stylish people...

Cortese?

Yeah - wasn't the new kit designed by him after he got all 'pissy' with Adidas? I think he was basically "Right, I'll do me own kit. How hard can it be? Few lines there... few lines there... bit of red... BOSH. Get that made up, will you?"

[quote][p][bold]costa gaz[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]St Van Roetford[/bold] wrote:
Nevermind all that: I've just noticed our new goalkeeper's kit. Christ, MY EYES!
If Cortese really did come up with this design then me and him are through. I mean, I was prepared to live with the cognitive dissonance of supporting a banker at a time when we were all living through the effects of what bankers had done because he was very good at running a football club but that kit is an obstacle too far. And to think Italians are supposed to be a stylish people...[/p][/quote]Cortese?[/p][/quote]Yeah - wasn't the new kit designed by him after he got all 'pissy' with Adidas? I think he was basically "Right, I'll do me own kit. How hard can it be? Few lines there... few lines there... bit of red... BOSH. Get that made up, will you?"St Van Roetford

It's not complicated. Financial fair play rules mean Saints can't match the wages on offer from the 'elite' clubs - ie those with bigger incomes.
Therefore the club's owner had two choices - front it out and hold players to their contracts, or sell high and buy low with lower wages to keep within ffp.
Personally, as I've said before, I think we should've fronted it out for one more season - just like Liverpool did with Suarez. And that one season got Liverpool back in the elite and the Champions League. But then again I'm just a punter and a supporter. Who knows what Leibherr is up to. But one for certain. Whatever her plan is, it won't be based on sentiment, love of the club or anything else that doesn't have 'PROFIT' written all over it.

It's not complicated. Financial fair play rules mean Saints can't match the wages on offer from the 'elite' clubs - ie those with bigger incomes.
Therefore the club's owner had two choices - front it out and hold players to their contracts, or sell high and buy low with lower wages to keep within ffp.
Personally, as I've said before, I think we should've fronted it out for one more season - just like Liverpool did with Suarez. And that one season got Liverpool back in the elite and the Champions League. But then again I'm just a punter and a supporter. Who knows what Leibherr is up to. But one for certain. Whatever her plan is, it won't be based on sentiment, love of the club or anything else that doesn't have 'PROFIT' written all over it.Abbey Saint

I am not a DE basher, to me it just is what it is - a local paper offering local news, to local people. (where have we heard that before?)

This whole series of articles is beyond the pale. They are supposed to inform, investigate, invite other perspectives, maintain integrity and they are all I presume "MEEEDJA STUDDDEEEZ" Graduates. So how can they possibly have got it so wrong?

I am not a DE basher, to me it just is what it is - a local paper offering local news, to local people. (where have we heard that before?)
This whole series of articles is beyond the pale. They are supposed to inform, investigate, invite other perspectives, maintain integrity and they are all I presume "MEEEDJA STUDDDEEEZ" Graduates. So how can they possibly have got it so wrong?jls217

There is no escaping the fact that this gas been a truly awful summer for every Saints fan. Unfortunately we are where we are and rather than blame the board we need to get behind the team. This season is about survival, our target gas to be to finish 17th or better. We can then rebuild and put all of what has happened behind us. I want us to show our former manager and players that thought they are too good for us that they were wrong and that we can achieve success without them. Alan Brazil said on talk sport that Ronko's job was going to be like climbing Everest in carpet slippers. Well Mr Brazil, bring it on because we will come though this.

There is no escaping the fact that this gas been a truly awful summer for every Saints fan. Unfortunately we are where we are and rather than blame the board we need to get behind the team. This season is about survival, our target gas to be to finish 17th or better. We can then rebuild and put all of what has happened behind us. I want us to show our former manager and players that thought they are too good for us that they were wrong and that we can achieve success without them. Alan Brazil said on talk sport that Ronko's job was going to be like climbing Everest in carpet slippers. Well Mr Brazil, bring it on because we will come though this.C_Kings Saint

It was inevitable. Other teams, Stoke under Tony Pulis, regularly finished in the top half of the table, but there was no rush to sign either the manager or the players. We didn't just finish 8th, we played very attractive football in achieving that position. Sadly, without huge investment enabling a much larger stadium, and a multiplying of our wage bill, we will be vulnerable to this kind of action from the "top" clubs. As for player loyalty these days, I fully expect Schneiderlin and Rodrigues to go. Their agents will do everything to engineer the moves, and, as is the norm, the players can create a situation in which the move becomes unavoidable. I suspect that Aston Villa are feeling the same way in relation to our pursuit of Vlaar.

It was inevitable. Other teams, Stoke under Tony Pulis, regularly finished in the top half of the table, but there was no rush to sign either the manager or the players. We didn't just finish 8th, we played very attractive football in achieving that position. Sadly, without huge investment enabling a much larger stadium, and a multiplying of our wage bill, we will be vulnerable to this kind of action from the "top" clubs. As for player loyalty these days, I fully expect Schneiderlin and Rodrigues to go. Their agents will do everything to engineer the moves, and, as is the norm, the players can create a situation in which the move becomes unavoidable. I suspect that Aston Villa are feeling the same way in relation to our pursuit of Vlaar.Camberley Saint

This summer the club always looked on the back foot. Even now when we should be seeing players joining, we are left to do cartwheels when we get someone on loan. The season will soon be upon us!!!

To be fair to Les and Ralph if a player wants out he is gone, but nevertheless the mixed messages coming out of St Marys has destroyed the trust between the club hierarchy and a great many fans. Once Rickie left we didn't look in control at all and we gave off signals of weakness to the big clubs.

There has to be a reason why Poch left, after all he had a very promising squad, who were a few signings away from a European place. I personally believe that Poch was told that we will need to tighten our belts financially so he thought it was the perfect time to jump. He had been sold a dream by NC and when he left twigged that not much money would be available if he didn't sell.

Moving onto KL, i believe that IF the majority of fans are hostile toward her she will eventually sell up!

This summer the club always looked on the back foot. Even now when we should be seeing players joining, we are left to do cartwheels when we get someone on loan. The season will soon be upon us!!!
To be fair to Les and Ralph if a player wants out he is gone, but nevertheless the mixed messages coming out of St Marys has destroyed the trust between the club hierarchy and a great many fans. Once Rickie left we didn't look in control at all and we gave off signals of weakness to the big clubs.
There has to be a reason why Poch left, after all he had a very promising squad, who were a few signings away from a European place. I personally believe that Poch was told that we will need to tighten our belts financially so he thought it was the perfect time to jump. He had been sold a dream by NC and when he left twigged that not much money would be available if he didn't sell.
Moving onto KL, i believe that IF the majority of fans are hostile toward her she will eventually sell up!redandy10

Article actually not as bad as I feared. but the headline on the link was clearly another DE attempt to wind up the fans.
As someone said above, why isn't the local paper more supportive of the club? No wonder they got banned...

Article actually not as bad as I feared. but the headline on the link was clearly another DE attempt to wind up the fans.
As someone said above, why isn't the local paper more supportive of the club? No wonder they got banned...BracknellSaint

Abbey Saint wrote:
It's not complicated. Financial fair play rules mean Saints can't match the wages on offer from the 'elite' clubs - ie those with bigger incomes.
Therefore the club's owner had two choices - front it out and hold players to their contracts, or sell high and buy low with lower wages to keep within ffp.
Personally, as I've said before, I think we should've fronted it out for one more season - just like Liverpool did with Suarez. And that one season got Liverpool back in the elite and the Champions League. But then again I'm just a punter and a supporter. Who knows what Leibherr is up to. But one for certain. Whatever her plan is, it won't be based on sentiment, love of the club or anything else that doesn't have 'PROFIT' written all over it.

Good point, but there's one big difference between our situation and Suarez at Liverpool; he was one player, and Liverpool could have lived with paying his wages while keeping him in the reserves - how could we possibly have done that with five or six players refusing to play for the Saints ever again?

We couldn't have afforded the wages they would continue to draw from us, and we couldn't have afforded replacements without the transfer fee. That made standing up to half the team impossible for us.

We can insist on MS staying, it's one player and we can absorb that. We can also do it with JRod, as his wages are being covered by insurance I would think, and there's not much chance of a transfer anyway until he's fit again. But we couldn't have done it with RL, AL, DL, LS, CC, MS & JR all at the same time!

That being the case, I think the board did brilliantly to get the money they did, and I now hope & expect them to also do well getting new players in. And they've made a very good start on that so far! Selling LS for 30 million and getting Bertrand for 10 million is brilliant business in anyone's book. Even the neggiest amongst us must concede that!

[quote][p][bold]Abbey Saint[/bold] wrote:
It's not complicated. Financial fair play rules mean Saints can't match the wages on offer from the 'elite' clubs - ie those with bigger incomes.
Therefore the club's owner had two choices - front it out and hold players to their contracts, or sell high and buy low with lower wages to keep within ffp.
Personally, as I've said before, I think we should've fronted it out for one more season - just like Liverpool did with Suarez. And that one season got Liverpool back in the elite and the Champions League. But then again I'm just a punter and a supporter. Who knows what Leibherr is up to. But one for certain. Whatever her plan is, it won't be based on sentiment, love of the club or anything else that doesn't have 'PROFIT' written all over it.[/p][/quote]Good point, but there's one big difference between our situation and Suarez at Liverpool; he was one player, and Liverpool could have lived with paying his wages while keeping him in the reserves - how could we possibly have done that with five or six players refusing to play for the Saints ever again?
We couldn't have afforded the wages they would continue to draw from us, and we couldn't have afforded replacements without the transfer fee. That made standing up to half the team impossible for us.
We can insist on MS staying, it's one player and we can absorb that. We can also do it with JRod, as his wages are being covered by insurance I would think, and there's not much chance of a transfer anyway until he's fit again. But we couldn't have done it with RL, AL, DL, LS, CC, MS & JR all at the same time!
That being the case, I think the board did brilliantly to get the money they did, and I now hope & expect them to also do well getting new players in. And they've made a very good start on that so far! Selling LS for 30 million and getting Bertrand for 10 million is brilliant business in anyone's book. Even the neggiest amongst us must concede that!Tony in Liberia

u bunch of mugs wrote:
I say boycot the Echo all they do is stir ****.
The news is 100% behind Portsmouth all the time.
Problem is the DE is run by aload of C@nts.

Why do you continue to use such disgusting language? You have had more than one person have a go at you
I used the word once,was to task and have not used it again
I suggest you grow up and do the same

[quote][p][bold]u bunch of mugs[/bold] wrote:
I say boycot the Echo all they do is stir ****.
The news is 100% behind Portsmouth all the time.
Problem is the DE is run by aload of C@nts.[/p][/quote]Why do you continue to use such disgusting language? You have had more than one person have a go at you
I used the word once,was to task and have not used it again
I suggest you grow up and do the samebullsbags

The DE like their 'Comments' at the moment. Whatever has gone on we need to see where we are come the end of the transfer window. If the board keep their promise and new players are in and Morgan and Jay stay then I think we can be optimistic and give the board some slack, if however this hasn't happened then we need to speak up and out about the dismantling of our club. If you check out sky bet we are favourites or near favourites to sign a number of good players including vlaar, classie, even hernandez. If this is the case and a mass rebuild takes place we have to accept that things won't gel overnight but also these are good players who playing under koeman would take us forward. I hope we get more good news over the coming days and I hope the board stay true to their word, if they do then I will definatley feel a lot more positive. In terms of morgan he should get his head down and work hard. If he is so desperate to move away then prove himself on the field over this season and then see what happens next summer. Surely that's what he should be doing! Bring on the new season and lets get behind the new manager as goodness knows what he thinks about all this! As for the DE stop stirring and just report news!

The DE like their 'Comments' at the moment. Whatever has gone on we need to see where we are come the end of the transfer window. If the board keep their promise and new players are in and Morgan and Jay stay then I think we can be optimistic and give the board some slack, if however this hasn't happened then we need to speak up and out about the dismantling of our club. If you check out sky bet we are favourites or near favourites to sign a number of good players including vlaar, classie, even hernandez. If this is the case and a mass rebuild takes place we have to accept that things won't gel overnight but also these are good players who playing under koeman would take us forward. I hope we get more good news over the coming days and I hope the board stay true to their word, if they do then I will definatley feel a lot more positive. In terms of morgan he should get his head down and work hard. If he is so desperate to move away then prove himself on the field over this season and then see what happens next summer. Surely that's what he should be doing! Bring on the new season and lets get behind the new manager as goodness knows what he thinks about all this! As for the DE stop stirring and just report news!bathsaints

u bunch of mugs wrote:
I say boycot the Echo all they do is stir ****.
The news is 100% behind Portsmouth all the time.
Problem is the DE is run by aload of C@nts.

Why do you continue to use such disgusting language? You have had more than one person have a go at you
I used the word once,was to task and have not used it again
I suggest you grow up and do the same

Just ignore the vulgar fukcing c@nt mate. Indelicacy, coarseness and tawdriness are far too often the resort of some of the sh!t brained tw@ts with impoverished vocabulary on here.

[quote][p][bold]bullsbags[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]u bunch of mugs[/bold] wrote:
I say boycot the Echo all they do is stir ****.
The news is 100% behind Portsmouth all the time.
Problem is the DE is run by aload of C@nts.[/p][/quote]Why do you continue to use such disgusting language? You have had more than one person have a go at you
I used the word once,was to task and have not used it again
I suggest you grow up and do the same[/p][/quote]Just ignore the vulgar fukcing c@nt mate. Indelicacy, coarseness and tawdriness are far too often the resort of some of the sh!t brained tw@ts with impoverished vocabulary on here.Confucious

u bunch of mugs wrote:
I say boycot the Echo all they do is stir ****.
The news is 100% behind Portsmouth all the time.
Problem is the DE is run by aload of C@nts.

Why do you continue to use such disgusting language? You have had more than one person have a go at you
I used the word once,was to task and have not used it again
I suggest you grow up and do the same

Just ignore the vulgar fukcing c@nt mate. Indelicacy, coarseness and tawdriness are far too often the resort of some of the sh!t brained tw@ts with impoverished vocabulary on here.

I think you should change your login in to confukyoucious in protest until these gutter-mouths grow up ...

[quote][p][bold]Confucious[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]bullsbags[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]u bunch of mugs[/bold] wrote:
I say boycot the Echo all they do is stir ****.
The news is 100% behind Portsmouth all the time.
Problem is the DE is run by aload of C@nts.[/p][/quote]Why do you continue to use such disgusting language? You have had more than one person have a go at you
I used the word once,was to task and have not used it again
I suggest you grow up and do the same[/p][/quote]Just ignore the vulgar fukcing c@nt mate. Indelicacy, coarseness and tawdriness are far too often the resort of some of the sh!t brained tw@ts with impoverished vocabulary on here.[/p][/quote]I think you should change your login in to confukyoucious in protest until these gutter-mouths grow up ...Tony in Liberia

u bunch of mugs wrote:
I say boycot the Echo all they do is stir ****.
The news is 100% behind Portsmouth all the time.
Problem is the DE is run by aload of C@nts.

Why do you continue to use such disgusting language? You have had more than one person have a go at you
I used the word once,was to task and have not used it again
I suggest you grow up and do the same

Just ignore the vulgar fukcing c@nt mate. Indelicacy, coarseness and tawdriness are far too often the resort of some of the sh!t brained tw@ts with impoverished vocabulary on here.

Haha - that's the first time I've laughed on here in a long time.

We've turned a corner!

[quote][p][bold]Confucious[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]bullsbags[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]u bunch of mugs[/bold] wrote:
I say boycot the Echo all they do is stir ****.
The news is 100% behind Portsmouth all the time.
Problem is the DE is run by aload of C@nts.[/p][/quote]Why do you continue to use such disgusting language? You have had more than one person have a go at you
I used the word once,was to task and have not used it again
I suggest you grow up and do the same[/p][/quote]Just ignore the vulgar fukcing c@nt mate. Indelicacy, coarseness and tawdriness are far too often the resort of some of the sh!t brained tw@ts with impoverished vocabulary on here.[/p][/quote]Haha - that's the first time I've laughed on here in a long time.
We've turned a corner!St Van Roetford

u bunch of mugs wrote:
I say boycot the Echo all they do is stir ****.
The news is 100% behind Portsmouth all the time.
Problem is the DE is run by aload of C@nts.

Why do you continue to use such disgusting language? You have had more than one person have a go at you
I used the word once,was to task and have not used it again
I suggest you grow up and do the same

Just ignore the vulgar fukcing c@nt mate. Indelicacy, coarseness and tawdriness are far too often the resort of some of the sh!t brained tw@ts with impoverished vocabulary on here.

It's funny
I've read various posts of yours over the last few weeks and couldn't make up my mind if you were a master of the English language or a retard
You have now answered my question,I'll sleep well tonight
Thank you

[quote][p][bold]Confucious[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]bullsbags[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]u bunch of mugs[/bold] wrote:
I say boycot the Echo all they do is stir ****.
The news is 100% behind Portsmouth all the time.
Problem is the DE is run by aload of C@nts.[/p][/quote]Why do you continue to use such disgusting language? You have had more than one person have a go at you
I used the word once,was to task and have not used it again
I suggest you grow up and do the same[/p][/quote]Just ignore the vulgar fukcing c@nt mate. Indelicacy, coarseness and tawdriness are far too often the resort of some of the sh!t brained tw@ts with impoverished vocabulary on here.[/p][/quote]It's funny
I've read various posts of yours over the last few weeks and couldn't make up my mind if you were a master of the English language or a retard
You have now answered my question,I'll sleep well tonight
Thank youbullsbags

People are worried about Saints financial power and also in our first season we lost seven million but with everything going on such as the training ground and transfer in the like this club has never seen it is not the end of the world. It gave us a collective debt of 19m.The turn over was £72 million. Our wage 64% 47m

Liverpool's for example was £206 mil turn over, 50 mil debt for the season and collective debt of 114m. After the date of the accounts they still spent another 53 mil on four players who hardly featured in the title race, wage 64% 132m

Liverpool finished 7th that season on 61 points 8th place were WBA on 49 pts. Aston Villa 13th and us 14th.

Fulham and Norwich both made meager profits and were relegated last season.

last season we took approximately 114m it was estimated at. If correct up 38 mil up on the season before.

If as believed Koeman has been given the 90 mil for player sales, then in truth the club hardly need to give him a hand out. Which leaves them in quite a strong position.

True in normal circumstances Saints cannot compete in wages with 6 of the 7, Everton being the exception. However right or wrong it would seem that the board were faced with a choice of over spending trying to keep all their players and raising club debt or realizing certain players would be let go at the right price to enable Saints to build a stronger squad. I think Shaw was always going since he before he signed pro forms. Lallana was seen as replaceable however that may grate with some, that Lambert was seen as having his best days behind him and Chambers who had been linked with Arsenal for half a season was seen as the more expendible of two quality right backs neither of whom would be happy to sit the season on the side line.
Hence Koeman was told that Lallana and Shaw were definitely going when he came, Lambert had gone and the Chambers thing was still in the pipeline. These players were seen as being able to generate enpough cash to give Saints a big transfer kitty to punch above their weight.
Which maybe the reason why Poch left.
Lovren was never meant to be part of that but created such a mess there was no choice. No one else is meant to be part of it. The club mis calculated the damage it would do to morale of players and fans and what it would look like to the outside world.

I have used Liverpool as an example as to what it is costing them to even launch the challenge for last season and because of their dealings with us and I have used Villa as a club of roughly the same size and financial income trying to push forward.

Without accumulating a similar huge financial burden this was the only way for the club to progress, which maybe behind Cortese's departure.
It is a gamble, yet it maybe that the club does move forward from this stronger if the talk of the incoming players is true and financially very sound.
Just a theory

People are worried about Saints financial power and also in our first season we lost seven million but with everything going on such as the training ground and transfer in the like this club has never seen it is not the end of the world. It gave us a collective debt of 19m.The turn over was £72 million. Our wage 64% 47m
Liverpool's for example was £206 mil turn over, 50 mil debt for the season and collective debt of 114m. After the date of the accounts they still spent another 53 mil on four players who hardly featured in the title race, wage 64% 132m
Aston Villa another example 84m turn over, lose 52m for the season, collective debt 189m wage 73% 72m
Liverpool finished 7th that season on 61 points 8th place were WBA on 49 pts. Aston Villa 13th and us 14th.
Fulham and Norwich both made meager profits and were relegated last season.
last season we took approximately 114m it was estimated at. If correct up 38 mil up on the season before.
If as believed Koeman has been given the 90 mil for player sales, then in truth the club hardly need to give him a hand out. Which leaves them in quite a strong position.
True in normal circumstances Saints cannot compete in wages with 6 of the 7, Everton being the exception. However right or wrong it would seem that the board were faced with a choice of over spending trying to keep all their players and raising club debt or realizing certain players would be let go at the right price to enable Saints to build a stronger squad. I think Shaw was always going since he before he signed pro forms. Lallana was seen as replaceable however that may grate with some, that Lambert was seen as having his best days behind him and Chambers who had been linked with Arsenal for half a season was seen as the more expendible of two quality right backs neither of whom would be happy to sit the season on the side line.
Hence Koeman was told that Lallana and Shaw were definitely going when he came, Lambert had gone and the Chambers thing was still in the pipeline. These players were seen as being able to generate enpough cash to give Saints a big transfer kitty to punch above their weight.
Which maybe the reason why Poch left.
Lovren was never meant to be part of that but created such a mess there was no choice. No one else is meant to be part of it. The club mis calculated the damage it would do to morale of players and fans and what it would look like to the outside world.
I have used Liverpool as an example as to what it is costing them to even launch the challenge for last season and because of their dealings with us and I have used Villa as a club of roughly the same size and financial income trying to push forward.
Without accumulating a similar huge financial burden this was the only way for the club to progress, which maybe behind Cortese's departure.
It is a gamble, yet it maybe that the club does move forward from this stronger if the talk of the incoming players is true and financially very sound.
Just a theorymilton road

Is this really how we want Saints run .................... NO THANKS !

Manchester United's owners have piled the pressure on new boss Louis van Gaal by stressing the potential financial perils of failure to qualify for the UEFA Champions League for a second consecutive season.

The news comes as the Glazer family, who own the club, are set to draw out £89m by reducing their shareholding in the club to 85%.

Is this really how we want Saints run .................... NO THANKS !
Manchester United's owners have piled the pressure on new boss Louis van Gaal by stressing the potential financial perils of failure to qualify for the UEFA Champions League for a second consecutive season.
The news comes as the Glazer family, who own the club, are set to draw out £89m by reducing their shareholding in the club to 85%.Buddy SFC

If it wasn't over just one summer each individual player gone is understandable, Shaw and Chambers both young and with huge price tags. Lovren and Lallana big money and poor attitude, might be able to add Schneiderlin and possibly Osvaldo to that soon. Lambert also gets his dream move and can't stand in the way.

It happened over one summer which makes it worrying but saints made a massive profit on these players and with the new players starting to come in there is still time.

As Raplh Krueger said judge the team by September, for now we have to trust those at the club to build a competitive team.

If it wasn't over just one summer each individual player gone is understandable, Shaw and Chambers both young and with huge price tags. Lovren and Lallana big money and poor attitude, might be able to add Schneiderlin and possibly Osvaldo to that soon. Lambert also gets his dream move and can't stand in the way.
It happened over one summer which makes it worrying but saints made a massive profit on these players and with the new players starting to come in there is still time.
As Raplh Krueger said judge the team by September, for now we have to trust those at the club to build a competitive team.SaintSherman

I keep on hearing "the big clubs" top four didn't have Man U or Tottenham so is Everton now classified as a big club?
surely looking at the history of Football many of these so called Big clubs were once small clubs,
If these players are as good as they think they are( England?) then staying here with a couple of new faces could have got then european football next year ( not this new season but the next) or is it more to do with money?
Chelseas manager now speaking out against Shaws wages says it all.
Lambert was missing plenty of open goals last year so letting him go & getting a goal scorer was a cert,
But for the Echo to say it gave the others an argument as why they should be allowed to go is wrong.
Is Lalana ,Shaw or Chambers at the end of their playing days?

I keep on hearing "the big clubs" top four didn't have Man U or Tottenham so is Everton now classified as a big club?
surely looking at the history of Football many of these so called Big clubs were once small clubs,
If these players are as good as they think they are( England?) then staying here with a couple of new faces could have got then european football next year ( not this new season but the next) or is it more to do with money?
Chelseas manager now speaking out against Shaws wages says it all.
Lambert was missing plenty of open goals last year so letting him go & getting a goal scorer was a cert,
But for the Echo to say it gave the others an argument as why they should be allowed to go is wrong.
Is Lalana ,Shaw or Chambers at the end of their playing days?loosehead

Playets just off the coach and need a boost to get their confidence up and back in their familiar happy zone.

All the off field troubles have set them back.

KING RON will shape the Team and get all the new faces playing together

The Fans have a huge role in getting it all going again

COYR+WS

Playets just off the coach and need a boost to get their confidence up and back in their familiar happy zone.
All the off field troubles have set them back.
KING RON will shape the Team and get all the new faces playing together
The Fans have a huge role in getting it all going again
COYR+WSThe Rise of The Foot Soldier.

milton road wrote:
People are worried about Saints financial power and also in our first season we lost seven million but with everything going on such as the training ground and transfer in the like this club has never seen it is not the end of the world. It gave us a collective debt of 19m.The turn over was £72 million. Our wage 64% 47m

Liverpool's for example was £206 mil turn over, 50 mil debt for the season and collective debt of 114m. After the date of the accounts they still spent another 53 mil on four players who hardly featured in the title race, wage 64% 132m

Liverpool finished 7th that season on 61 points 8th place were WBA on 49 pts. Aston Villa 13th and us 14th.

Fulham and Norwich both made meager profits and were relegated last season.

last season we took approximately 114m it was estimated at. If correct up 38 mil up on the season before.

If as believed Koeman has been given the 90 mil for player sales, then in truth the club hardly need to give him a hand out. Which leaves them in quite a strong position.

True in normal circumstances Saints cannot compete in wages with 6 of the 7, Everton being the exception. However right or wrong it would seem that the board were faced with a choice of over spending trying to keep all their players and raising club debt or realizing certain players would be let go at the right price to enable Saints to build a stronger squad. I think Shaw was always going since he before he signed pro forms. Lallana was seen as replaceable however that may grate with some, that Lambert was seen as having his best days behind him and Chambers who had been linked with Arsenal for half a season was seen as the more expendible of two quality right backs neither of whom would be happy to sit the season on the side line.
Hence Koeman was told that Lallana and Shaw were definitely going when he came, Lambert had gone and the Chambers thing was still in the pipeline. These players were seen as being able to generate enpough cash to give Saints a big transfer kitty to punch above their weight.
Which maybe the reason why Poch left.
Lovren was never meant to be part of that but created such a mess there was no choice. No one else is meant to be part of it. The club mis calculated the damage it would do to morale of players and fans and what it would look like to the outside world.

I have used Liverpool as an example as to what it is costing them to even launch the challenge for last season and because of their dealings with us and I have used Villa as a club of roughly the same size and financial income trying to push forward.

Without accumulating a similar huge financial burden this was the only way for the club to progress, which maybe behind Cortese's departure.
It is a gamble, yet it maybe that the club does move forward from this stronger if the talk of the incoming players is true and financially very sound.
Just a theory

A very good theory. Well reasoned, balanced and backed by evidence. So why are paid journalists only capable or childlike sensationalism? Cheers.

[quote][p][bold]milton road[/bold] wrote:
People are worried about Saints financial power and also in our first season we lost seven million but with everything going on such as the training ground and transfer in the like this club has never seen it is not the end of the world. It gave us a collective debt of 19m.The turn over was £72 million. Our wage 64% 47m
Liverpool's for example was £206 mil turn over, 50 mil debt for the season and collective debt of 114m. After the date of the accounts they still spent another 53 mil on four players who hardly featured in the title race, wage 64% 132m
Aston Villa another example 84m turn over, lose 52m for the season, collective debt 189m wage 73% 72m
Liverpool finished 7th that season on 61 points 8th place were WBA on 49 pts. Aston Villa 13th and us 14th.
Fulham and Norwich both made meager profits and were relegated last season.
last season we took approximately 114m it was estimated at. If correct up 38 mil up on the season before.
If as believed Koeman has been given the 90 mil for player sales, then in truth the club hardly need to give him a hand out. Which leaves them in quite a strong position.
True in normal circumstances Saints cannot compete in wages with 6 of the 7, Everton being the exception. However right or wrong it would seem that the board were faced with a choice of over spending trying to keep all their players and raising club debt or realizing certain players would be let go at the right price to enable Saints to build a stronger squad. I think Shaw was always going since he before he signed pro forms. Lallana was seen as replaceable however that may grate with some, that Lambert was seen as having his best days behind him and Chambers who had been linked with Arsenal for half a season was seen as the more expendible of two quality right backs neither of whom would be happy to sit the season on the side line.
Hence Koeman was told that Lallana and Shaw were definitely going when he came, Lambert had gone and the Chambers thing was still in the pipeline. These players were seen as being able to generate enpough cash to give Saints a big transfer kitty to punch above their weight.
Which maybe the reason why Poch left.
Lovren was never meant to be part of that but created such a mess there was no choice. No one else is meant to be part of it. The club mis calculated the damage it would do to morale of players and fans and what it would look like to the outside world.
I have used Liverpool as an example as to what it is costing them to even launch the challenge for last season and because of their dealings with us and I have used Villa as a club of roughly the same size and financial income trying to push forward.
Without accumulating a similar huge financial burden this was the only way for the club to progress, which maybe behind Cortese's departure.
It is a gamble, yet it maybe that the club does move forward from this stronger if the talk of the incoming players is true and financially very sound.
Just a theory[/p][/quote]A very good theory. Well reasoned, balanced and backed by evidence. So why are paid journalists only capable or childlike sensationalism? Cheers.Mosschops

I find it interesting how everyone describes the club and the game as a business. So if you purchase a washing machine in a shop and its faulty you get your money back. When you purchase a season ticket based on the players you have and then the club sells it's players does then that in the business world constitute faulty goods?
Will anyone receive a discount or refund ? I don't think so because as usual the good old football fans will not complain and anyway the club has become a money making business and that's all.
Just a thought.

I find it interesting how everyone describes the club and the game as a business. So if you purchase a washing machine in a shop and its faulty you get your money back. When you purchase a season ticket based on the players you have and then the club sells it's players does then that in the business world constitute faulty goods?
Will anyone receive a discount or refund ? I don't think so because as usual the good old football fans will not complain and anyway the club has become a money making business and that's all.
Just a thought.Nunner

Nunner wrote:
I find it interesting how everyone describes the club and the game as a business. So if you purchase a washing machine in a shop and its faulty you get your money back. When you purchase a season ticket based on the players you have and then the club sells it's players does then that in the business world constitute faulty goods?
Will anyone receive a discount or refund ? I don't think so because as usual the good old football fans will not complain and anyway the club has become a money making business and that's all.
Just a thought.

no because you don't buy a season ticket to watch 1-2 or a couple more players. you buy a season ticket to watch Southampton fc. they don't have to tell you what players are going to be in the squad.
so if I buy a ticket for a game next season and tadic isn't playing should I ask for a refund? no I go and support the team!

[quote][p][bold]Nunner[/bold] wrote:
I find it interesting how everyone describes the club and the game as a business. So if you purchase a washing machine in a shop and its faulty you get your money back. When you purchase a season ticket based on the players you have and then the club sells it's players does then that in the business world constitute faulty goods?
Will anyone receive a discount or refund ? I don't think so because as usual the good old football fans will not complain and anyway the club has become a money making business and that's all.
Just a thought.[/p][/quote]no because you don't buy a season ticket to watch 1-2 or a couple more players. you buy a season ticket to watch Southampton fc. they don't have to tell you what players are going to be in the squad.
so if I buy a ticket for a game next season and tadic isn't playing should I ask for a refund? no I go and support the team!de Heiligen paard 101

Nunner wrote:
I find it interesting how everyone describes the club and the game as a business. So if you purchase a washing machine in a shop and its faulty you get your money back. When you purchase a season ticket based on the players you have and then the club sells it's players does then that in the business world constitute faulty goods?
Will anyone receive a discount or refund ? I don't think so because as usual the good old football fans will not complain and anyway the club has become a money making business and that's all.
Just a thought.

Its not quite the same though is it. A washing machine comes with a guarantee which has to be honoured. I don't recall the selling of season tickets coming with a guarantee that all last seasons players would still be here. A season ticket covers nineteen home games with the side selected on the day. Nothing the club has done has changed that. I've got my season ticket and I'm looking forward to the season ahead (I think)!!

[quote][p][bold]Nunner[/bold] wrote:
I find it interesting how everyone describes the club and the game as a business. So if you purchase a washing machine in a shop and its faulty you get your money back. When you purchase a season ticket based on the players you have and then the club sells it's players does then that in the business world constitute faulty goods?
Will anyone receive a discount or refund ? I don't think so because as usual the good old football fans will not complain and anyway the club has become a money making business and that's all.
Just a thought.[/p][/quote]Its not quite the same though is it. A washing machine comes with a guarantee which has to be honoured. I don't recall the selling of season tickets coming with a guarantee that all last seasons players would still be here. A season ticket covers nineteen home games with the side selected on the day. Nothing the club has done has changed that. I've got my season ticket and I'm looking forward to the season ahead (I think)!!Clever Dick

milton road wrote:
People are worried about Saints financial power and also in our first season we lost seven million but with everything going on such as the training ground and transfer in the like this club has never seen it is not the end of the world. It gave us a collective debt of 19m.The turn over was £72 million. Our wage 64% 47m

Liverpool's for example was £206 mil turn over, 50 mil debt for the season and collective debt of 114m. After the date of the accounts they still spent another 53 mil on four players who hardly featured in the title race, wage 64% 132m

Liverpool finished 7th that season on 61 points 8th place were WBA on 49 pts. Aston Villa 13th and us 14th.

Fulham and Norwich both made meager profits and were relegated last season.

last season we took approximately 114m it was estimated at. If correct up 38 mil up on the season before.

If as believed Koeman has been given the 90 mil for player sales, then in truth the club hardly need to give him a hand out. Which leaves them in quite a strong position.

True in normal circumstances Saints cannot compete in wages with 6 of the 7, Everton being the exception. However right or wrong it would seem that the board were faced with a choice of over spending trying to keep all their players and raising club debt or realizing certain players would be let go at the right price to enable Saints to build a stronger squad. I think Shaw was always going since he before he signed pro forms. Lallana was seen as replaceable however that may grate with some, that Lambert was seen as having his best days behind him and Chambers who had been linked with Arsenal for half a season was seen as the more expendible of two quality right backs neither of whom would be happy to sit the season on the side line.
Hence Koeman was told that Lallana and Shaw were definitely going when he came, Lambert had gone and the Chambers thing was still in the pipeline. These players were seen as being able to generate enpough cash to give Saints a big transfer kitty to punch above their weight.
Which maybe the reason why Poch left.
Lovren was never meant to be part of that but created such a mess there was no choice. No one else is meant to be part of it. The club mis calculated the damage it would do to morale of players and fans and what it would look like to the outside world.

I have used Liverpool as an example as to what it is costing them to even launch the challenge for last season and because of their dealings with us and I have used Villa as a club of roughly the same size and financial income trying to push forward.

Without accumulating a similar huge financial burden this was the only way for the club to progress, which maybe behind Cortese's departure.
It is a gamble, yet it maybe that the club does move forward from this stronger if the talk of the incoming players is true and financially very sound.
Just a theory

This is exactly the problem we faced at they'd of last season. See my blog post.

Redsloscf.blogspot.c
om

[quote][p][bold]milton road[/bold] wrote:
People are worried about Saints financial power and also in our first season we lost seven million but with everything going on such as the training ground and transfer in the like this club has never seen it is not the end of the world. It gave us a collective debt of 19m.The turn over was £72 million. Our wage 64% 47m
Liverpool's for example was £206 mil turn over, 50 mil debt for the season and collective debt of 114m. After the date of the accounts they still spent another 53 mil on four players who hardly featured in the title race, wage 64% 132m
Aston Villa another example 84m turn over, lose 52m for the season, collective debt 189m wage 73% 72m
Liverpool finished 7th that season on 61 points 8th place were WBA on 49 pts. Aston Villa 13th and us 14th.
Fulham and Norwich both made meager profits and were relegated last season.
last season we took approximately 114m it was estimated at. If correct up 38 mil up on the season before.
If as believed Koeman has been given the 90 mil for player sales, then in truth the club hardly need to give him a hand out. Which leaves them in quite a strong position.
True in normal circumstances Saints cannot compete in wages with 6 of the 7, Everton being the exception. However right or wrong it would seem that the board were faced with a choice of over spending trying to keep all their players and raising club debt or realizing certain players would be let go at the right price to enable Saints to build a stronger squad. I think Shaw was always going since he before he signed pro forms. Lallana was seen as replaceable however that may grate with some, that Lambert was seen as having his best days behind him and Chambers who had been linked with Arsenal for half a season was seen as the more expendible of two quality right backs neither of whom would be happy to sit the season on the side line.
Hence Koeman was told that Lallana and Shaw were definitely going when he came, Lambert had gone and the Chambers thing was still in the pipeline. These players were seen as being able to generate enpough cash to give Saints a big transfer kitty to punch above their weight.
Which maybe the reason why Poch left.
Lovren was never meant to be part of that but created such a mess there was no choice. No one else is meant to be part of it. The club mis calculated the damage it would do to morale of players and fans and what it would look like to the outside world.
I have used Liverpool as an example as to what it is costing them to even launch the challenge for last season and because of their dealings with us and I have used Villa as a club of roughly the same size and financial income trying to push forward.
Without accumulating a similar huge financial burden this was the only way for the club to progress, which maybe behind Cortese's departure.
It is a gamble, yet it maybe that the club does move forward from this stronger if the talk of the incoming players is true and financially very sound.
Just a theory[/p][/quote]This is exactly the problem we faced at they'd of last season. See my blog post.
Redsloscf.blogspot.c
omRedslo

Abbey Saint wrote:
It's not complicated. Financial fair play rules mean Saints can't match the wages on offer from the 'elite' clubs - ie those with bigger incomes.
Therefore the club's owner had two choices - front it out and hold players to their contracts, or sell high and buy low with lower wages to keep within ffp.
Personally, as I've said before, I think we should've fronted it out for one more season - just like Liverpool did with Suarez. And that one season got Liverpool back in the elite and the Champions League. But then again I'm just a punter and a supporter. Who knows what Leibherr is up to. But one for certain. Whatever her plan is, it won't be based on sentiment, love of the club or anything else that doesn't have 'PROFIT' written all over it.

Yes.
Witness the price of our 'own-brand' shirts for that.
No good value prices passed on to customers for something that will last for a mere season. Nice to see greed is not just confined to the wantaway mutineers. On message, Southampton FC Plc.

On the other hand, they could give us something to believe in, we could then support and make noises about what you are alluding to. But, in amidst it all, the best possible football has to be the desired end product.

My Saints Forever!

[quote][p][bold]Abbey Saint[/bold] wrote:
It's not complicated. Financial fair play rules mean Saints can't match the wages on offer from the 'elite' clubs - ie those with bigger incomes.
Therefore the club's owner had two choices - front it out and hold players to their contracts, or sell high and buy low with lower wages to keep within ffp.
Personally, as I've said before, I think we should've fronted it out for one more season - just like Liverpool did with Suarez. And that one season got Liverpool back in the elite and the Champions League. But then again I'm just a punter and a supporter. Who knows what Leibherr is up to. But one for certain. Whatever her plan is, it won't be based on sentiment, love of the club or anything else that doesn't have 'PROFIT' written all over it.[/p][/quote]Yes.
Witness the price of our 'own-brand' shirts for that.
No good value prices passed on to customers for something that will last for a mere season. Nice to see greed is not just confined to the wantaway mutineers. On message, Southampton FC Plc.
On the other hand, they could give us something to believe in, we could then support and make noises about what you are alluding to. But, in amidst it all, the best possible football has to be the desired end product.
My Saints Forever!lowe esteem

Please remove former players like Lambert from your presentations and replace them with current ones - frankly I'm getting sick of seeing Lambert everyday when I want to be reminded of positive progress.

Please remove former players like Lambert from your presentations and replace them with current ones - frankly I'm getting sick of seeing Lambert everyday when I want to be reminded of positive progress.wheresthemoneygone

Headline news...another ex player scoring for his new club?
Next but one item another ex player winning at his new club?
What is the Echo reporting on them for?
Please have a little respect for all Sa1nts fans.

Headline news...another ex player scoring for his new club?
Next but one item another ex player winning at his new club?
What is the Echo reporting on them for?
Please have a little respect for all Sa1nts fans.Nunner